A dispute between the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation and Sportsmax parent company International Media Content has resulted in the television station pulling the channels from its Multi-Choice TV cable service.

CBC's General Manager Doug Hoyte says the decision was taken because of the highly unusual and unacceptable step by IMC to put in the public domain the private business arrangement of the two companies.

Mr Hoyte's comments are in response to a media statement from IMC suggesting it is owed significant sums by MCTV for Sportsmax and Sportsmax2.

Both Sportsmax and IMC are owned by Digicel.

IMC also threatened to discontinue its arrangement with the CBC if the two parties failed to reach an agreement on how to settle the matter.

Mr Hoyte says the corporation's efforts to resolve the issue with IMC have so far not been successful.

He adds however the CBC is working on putting an alternative in place.

A number of Barbadian filmmakers will be under the spotlight during this year's Carifesta celebrations as international buyers are set to attend the event.

Several full length local films to be screened around the island include the work of Step-by-Step Productions, Hall-e-Wood Productions, Selwyne Browne, Shakirah Bourne and Ricky Redman.

A recent film "After the Loss" starring students of the St Leonard’s School will also be screened and filmmakers will be given the chance to network with potential investors.

Ten other countries across the region will also showcase films, including Bermuda, Guadelope, Haiti, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.

Most screenings will take place at the Olympus theatres for a nominal fee but others will be free to the public at the Checker Hall playing field in St. Lucy, the Glebe Playing field in St. George and the Dover playing field in Christ Church.

Season passes are also available and the schedule for the films as well as other events can be found at Carifesta.net.

The Grenada government Monday said it would launch an investigation into the reasons why the annual Panorama competition did not take place over the last weekend as Grenadians continue to celebrate the annual Carnival activities.

Patrons who gathered at the Junior Murray/Rawle Lewis stand of the National Cricket Stadium were told nearly three hours after the schedule start of the event that the competition would not now take place. The organisers, Spicemas Corporation, which receives an annual subvention of EC$700,000 to stage the Carnival activities, says it hopes to stage the Panorama competition this coming weekend.

“The Government is extremely concerned about the fact that Panorama did not take place as planned and pan lovers, as well as pan players, including the large number of young people, were deprived of an opportunity to participate in this rich annual cultural tradition,” according to an official statement.

“We recognize steel pan as an indispensable stakeholder in our biggest cultural festival which draws thousands to our island every year. It is unfortunate that, at the height of the carnival season, pan players were not allowed to showcase on our biggest cultural stage, their extensive hours, days and weeks of preparation.

“The Government expresses solidarity with pan lovers and everyone in general following the last minute postponement of this important aspect of our carnival and culture. We reiterate our regret to the general public at home and abroad and to all our visiting friends for this unfortunate incident,” the statement noted, promising a comprehensive probe into the matter.

The Keith Mitchell administration said that it is in communication with the “necessary bodies responsible for making those decisions and we look forward to them providing timely answers.

“Like the general public, we look forward to more details as plans unfold,” the release noted, adding that the competition, branded as “Pantastic Saturday” will be held on August 19.

The parish of St. John will make a major contribution to Carifesta 13 when it hosts "A Taste of Bajan Life and Summer Concert"

The event comes off on August 26th at Hothersal playing field in St John and will encompass a range of activities and entertainment for all ages including a farmers market, dj's, a children's play area and a craft area.

Speaking at the launch at Clifton Hall great house, member of the planning committee Terian Reid says the initiative opens up rural St. John to locals, delegates and visitors of Carifesta 13.

There will also be coach- driven St John heritage tours, a bar hopping bus crawl and the event will come to a grand close with a sunset concert featuring performances from Carifesta delegates and local Soca artistes.

MP for St John, Mara Thompson, says the initiative will shine a positive light on life in rural Barbados.

The Barbados Tourism Product Authority is one of the event's sponsors and CEO Dr Kerry Hall says the idea falls in line with the BTPA's goal of empowering communities to showcase the unique components of Barbados' rich culture.